From Trustee Colony to Royal From Trustee Colony to Royal ColonyColony Trustee period: Trustee period:

1732-17521732-1752 Referred to as Referred to as

Trustee Georgia Trustee Georgia because during because during that time a Board that time a Board of Trustees ruled of Trustees ruled the colonythe colony

The seal adopted by the Georgia Trustees The seal adopted by the Georgia Trustees features a silkworm, mulberry leaf, and cocoon, features a silkworm, mulberry leaf, and cocoon, representing their hopes that the colonists would representing their hopes that the colonists would establish a thriving silk industry. The Latin motto establish a thriving silk industry. The Latin motto Non sibi sed aliisNon sibi sed aliis translates as "Not for self, but translates as "Not for self, but for others." for others."

Courtesy of Georgia Historical SocietyCourtesy of Georgia Historical Society

Ending the Trustee Ending the Trustee PeriodPeriod

During the 20 years of the Trustee During the 20 years of the Trustee period, many accomplishments were period, many accomplishments were made: made:

5500 people had settled in 5500 people had settled in Georgia, building homes and Georgia, building homes and starting new livesstarting new lives

Settlers escaping religious Settlers escaping religious persecution were able to worship persecution were able to worship freelyfreely

Treaties with the Native Treaties with the Native Americans, as well as the Americans, as well as the elimination of the Spanish threat elimination of the Spanish threat of invasion (Battle of Bloody of invasion (Battle of Bloody Marsh), had ended the need for Marsh), had ended the need for British protectionBritish protection

Court system still functioned: by Court system still functioned: by 1750, colonists had gained 1750, colonists had gained outright ownership of land, and outright ownership of land, and women were able to inherit women were able to inherit propertyproperty

Bethesda Orphans Home in Bethesda Orphans Home in Ebenezer became Bethesda House Ebenezer became Bethesda House (school)(school)

Provided basic education to Provided basic education to many future Georgia leadersmany future Georgia leaders

Bethesda Home for Boys, 1740

1361 PH Georgia Historical Society Photograph Collection, Box 7, Folder 12, Item 1303

Georgia as a Royal Georgia as a Royal ColonyColony

When the original charter ended in 1752, When the original charter ended in 1752, Georgia became a British royal colony Georgia became a British royal colony (this lasted until the end of the American (this lasted until the end of the American Revolution—1783)Revolution—1783)

Royal colony: one directly governed by the kingRoyal colony: one directly governed by the king Proprietary colony (GA: 1732-1752): governed Proprietary colony (GA: 1732-1752): governed

by a board of trusteesby a board of trustees 1752: Puritans from SC started moving 1752: Puritans from SC started moving

into present-day Liberty County, bringing into present-day Liberty County, bringing their slaves with them. They began their slaves with them. They began growing rice and indigo (why?) and built a growing rice and indigo (why?) and built a port at Sunbury so that planters could port at Sunbury so that planters could ship their cropsship their crops

John Reynolds John Reynolds (1(1stst royal Governor:1754- royal Governor:1754-

1757)1757) Arrived in Georgia Arrived in Georgia

on October 1, 1754on October 1, 1754—colonists cheered —colonists cheered at his arrivalat his arrival

Introduced the idea Introduced the idea of self-government: of self-government: wanted the colonists wanted the colonists to help run the to help run the governmentgovernment

Set up a court Set up a court system: Court of system: Court of ConscienceConscience

Government in the Royal Government in the Royal ColonyColony

Bicameral (two chamber) legislature was set up Bicameral (two chamber) legislature was set up to represent the 8 parishes of the colony to represent the 8 parishes of the colony Parish: a British government districtParish: a British government district

Lower house: Commons House of AssemblyLower house: Commons House of Assembly Those wishing to join the Assembly had to own at least Those wishing to join the Assembly had to own at least

500 acres of land500 acres of land Upper house: Governor’s CouncilUpper house: Governor’s Council

Governor appointed members of the Governor’s CouncilGovernor appointed members of the Governor’s Council New government met for the 1New government met for the 1stst time in 1755 in time in 1755 in

SavannahSavannah reorganized state militia reorganized state militia passed bills to build/repair roadspassed bills to build/repair roads drew up codes to restrict the rights of slavesdrew up codes to restrict the rights of slaves

Court System in the Court System in the Royal ColonyRoyal Colony

Reynolds did set up a Reynolds did set up a court.court.

Court of Conscience: Court of Conscience: presided over by a presided over by a local justice of the local justice of the peacepeace When colonists had When colonists had

complaints, they would complaints, they would go before this courtgo before this court

Cases that could not Cases that could not be settled went to the be settled went to the Governor’s CouncilGovernor’s Council

Reynolds’ DownfallReynolds’ Downfall Reynolds dissolved the Reynolds dissolved the

legislature when he felt legislature when he felt threatened that they would threatened that they would undermine his authorityundermine his authority

Without the legislature, Without the legislature, Reynolds attempted to run the Reynolds attempted to run the government himself, making government himself, making the colonists angrythe colonists angry

Lacked diplomacy in dealing Lacked diplomacy in dealing with Natives – which was VERY with Natives – which was VERY important with the French & important with the French & Indian War going on…Indian War going on…

Angry colonists (including a Angry colonists (including a large land-holder) wrote to large land-holder) wrote to King George complaining about King George complaining about Reynolds actions. He Reynolds actions. He relinquished control of Georgia relinquished control of Georgia to Henry Ellis in 1756.to Henry Ellis in 1756.

King George II—in a Royal Colony, the King has ultimate control

Henry Ellis (1757-1760Henry Ellis (1757-1760 Took control after ReynoldsTook control after Reynolds

Learned quickly from Reynolds’ Learned quickly from Reynolds’ mistakesmistakes

Known as the “Second Founder of Known as the “Second Founder of Georgia”Georgia”

Ellis taught Georgians the art of self-Ellis taught Georgians the art of self-government. He created a budget, government. He created a budget, taxes, clarified land titles with taxes, clarified land titles with Natives, ended the political drama…Natives, ended the political drama…

Brought people together from many Brought people together from many different political groupsdifferent political groups

Population almost doubled under his Population almost doubled under his term: 1759—population was about term: 1759—population was about 10,000 including 3,600 slaves10,000 including 3,600 slaves

Colony made several economic gainsColony made several economic gains profitable farmsprofitable farms more merchants with a greater more merchants with a greater

variety of goodsvariety of goods This allowed colonists to buy things This allowed colonists to buy things

they could not grow or manufacture they could not grow or manufacture (cloth, sugar, farming tools, seeds for (cloth, sugar, farming tools, seeds for planting)planting)

Left office after becoming ill in 1760Left office after becoming ill in 1760 Carte de la Caroline and Georgia Pour Servir a l'Histoire Generale des Voyages, drawn by M. B. Ing of the French Navy,

1757

(Map of Carolina and Georgia to Serve the General History of Travels)

Georgia Historical Society Map Collection, #298 SS

He built a solid foundation He built a solid foundation for Georgia. He had skills for Georgia. He had skills that Reynolds did not.that Reynolds did not.

Ellis’s most important skill Ellis’s most important skill involved his involved his communication with Native communication with Native American tribes. American tribes.

He held on to the He held on to the friendship of the Creek friendship of the Creek Nation and declared Nation and declared Georgia’s authority to Georgia’s authority to control the Indian trade. control the Indian trade.

By 1760, an ailing Ellis left By 1760, an ailing Ellis left Georgia and the governor Georgia and the governor position.position.

He also created the He also created the first 8 counties – first 8 counties – called parishes.called parishes.

James Wright (1760-James Wright (1760-1781)1781) 33rdrd Royal governor Royal governor Born in S.C. (was the previous S.C. Born in S.C. (was the previous S.C.

Attorney GeneralAttorney General Loyal to the King, but wanted the Loyal to the King, but wanted the

colonies to prospercolonies to prosper Believed that Georgia would Believed that Georgia would

continue to grow if: continue to grow if: large farms were biggerlarge farms were bigger trading expandedtrading expanded western lands of the colony were western lands of the colony were

opened to settlersopened to settlers James Wright was very popular and James Wright was very popular and

held the governor’s position for sixteen held the governor’s position for sixteen years, from 1760 to 1776. years, from 1760 to 1776.

Courtesy of Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries

Impact of the French & Impact of the French & Indian WarIndian War

Georgia did not fight in the Georgia did not fight in the war but gained lands from it.war but gained lands from it.

In the Treaty of Paris of In the Treaty of Paris of 1763 – which ended the 1763 – which ended the French & Indian war – it French & Indian war – it took land from the Spanish took land from the Spanish and extended Georgia’s and extended Georgia’s lands to the St. Mississippi lands to the St. Mississippi River and there was a River and there was a Proclamation of 1763.Proclamation of 1763.

Proclamation of 1763Proclamation of 1763: : took Frances lands west of took Frances lands west of the Appalachians to the the Appalachians to the Mississippi River. But it Mississippi River. But it RESERVED this land for the RESERVED this land for the Natives who helped the Natives who helped the British.British.

Land Grants & Demand Land Grants & Demand for Slavesfor Slaves

Settlers who came to the colony by way of Settlers who came to the colony by way of the Trust’s charity, were limited to 50 the Trust’s charity, were limited to 50 acre land grants. acre land grants.

Those who paid their way could have up Those who paid their way could have up to 500 acres of land. to 500 acres of land.

Those who paid their way were required Those who paid their way were required to have at least one servant or family to have at least one servant or family member for every fifty acres of their member for every fifty acres of their grant. grant.

This rule helped ensure that enough men This rule helped ensure that enough men were available to defend the colony. were available to defend the colony.

Changes in Georgia Changes in Georgia (1760-1781)(1760-1781)

Completed defenses around Completed defenses around SavannahSavannah

surrounded with palisades surrounded with palisades (strong wooden wall for (strong wooden wall for defense) defense)

area forts made strongerarea forts made stronger Sunbury: became the colony’s Sunbury: became the colony’s

official port of entry for ships official port of entry for ships from other colonies and from other colonies and countriescountries

Economy was growingEconomy was growing both legislative houses worked both legislative houses worked

together to build the economy together to build the economy (rice, indigo, silk)(rice, indigo, silk)

farmers were allowed to farmers were allowed to borrow more money and buy borrow more money and buy landland

More schools/books (mostly for More schools/books (mostly for upper class)upper class)

Georgia Gazette: 1Georgia Gazette: 1stst newspaper newspaper in the colonyin the colony

Mothers dying in childbirthMothers dying in childbirth Schools were mostly for upper-Schools were mostly for upper-

class class So-called “undesirable people”: So-called “undesirable people”:

settlers from Virginia and the settlers from Virginia and the Carolinas who settled in the Carolinas who settled in the middle and western parts of the middle and western parts of the colonycolony

Came to be known as ‘crackers’Came to be known as ‘crackers’ meant to be an insult for the meant to be an insult for the

lower classeslower classes thought of as people who did thought of as people who did

not obey the law and were not not obey the law and were not welcome in the colonywelcome in the colony

No colony defense planNo colony defense plan Lower class wanted a voice in Lower class wanted a voice in

governmentgovernment Independence Movement:Independence Movement:

economic and political freedomeconomic and political freedom

Slavery in the Royal Slavery in the Royal Georgia ColonyGeorgia Colony

1750: Trustee’s law banning 1750: Trustee’s law banning slavery liftedslavery lifted

Slaves had no legal rights to Slaves had no legal rights to private livesprivate lives

could not legally marry or live could not legally marry or live where they wantedwhere they wanted

usually were not taught to usually were not taught to readread

rebellion against slave rebellion against slave owners was nearly impossibleowners was nearly impossible

punishment included punishment included separation from family, separation from family, beatings, deathbeatings, death

By the mid-1750’s, previous By the mid-1750’s, previous debates against slavery were debates against slavery were non-existent: non-existent:

Almost every white person in Almost every white person in the Georgia low-country the Georgia low-country believed that having slaves believed that having slaves was essential to their was essential to their economic prosperityeconomic prosperity

Africans captured to be sold into slavery crossed the Atlantic Ocean lying pressed together in crowded ships' holds. The city of Savannah served as a major port for the Atlantic slave trade from 1750, when the Georgia colony repealed its ban on slavery, until 1798, when the state outlawed the importation of slaves.

--From “The New Georgia Encyclopedia”

Do slave activity.

SlaverySlavery Between 1750 and 1775, the Between 1750 and 1775, the

number of Africans living in number of Africans living in slavery increased from 500 to slavery increased from 500 to 18,000. 18,000.

These Africans had no rights. These Africans had no rights. They were not allowed to They were not allowed to

marry, or live where they marry, or live where they wanted, or even learn to read.wanted, or even learn to read.

They had to work and live in They had to work and live in the harsh conditions of the the harsh conditions of the Georgia rice fields. Georgia rice fields.

Rebellion against slave owners Rebellion against slave owners was almost impossible. was almost impossible.

Punishment included beatings, Punishment included beatings, whippings, separation from whippings, separation from friends or family, and even friends or family, and even death.death.

End of the Royal ColonyEnd of the Royal Colony In 1776, at the beginning In 1776, at the beginning

of the American of the American Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War, Georgia declared its Georgia declared its independence from the independence from the British Crown along with British Crown along with other British colonies.other British colonies.

Georgia allowed James Georgia allowed James Wright to escape to an Wright to escape to an awaiting British ship – awaiting British ship – before the patriots could before the patriots could tar and feather him; and tar and feather him; and possibly hang him!possibly hang him!